Starting in June 2025, Afghans for Progressive Thinking (APT) launched the Advocacy and
Academic Writing Program to empower 40 young Afghan women. The program helps them
learn how to address social challenges in their communities and share their own
recommendations with national and international audiences.
Over the past months, the participants attended workshops on advocacy, action planning, policy
writing, and more. They learned how to draft policy briefs that respond to community needs and
present recommendations to address challenges they are currently facing.
This program is part of APT’s wider mission as a youth led nonprofit in Afghanistan. APT works
to amplify the voices of young people, especially girls and women, by promoting education,
leadership, and dialogue. It also connects Afghan students with mentors abroad, supports access
to higher education, and runs creative initiatives such as writing programs that allow women to
share their experiences and resilience under difficult circumstances.
With most of the training now complete, the participants have entered the next stage: developing
and presenting their policy briefs. In the weeks ahead, they will share their recommendations on
national and international platforms, contributing to discussions about Afghanistan’s future.
APT has reaffirmed its commitment to continue mentoring and guiding these young women as
they take bold steps in advocacy. By supporting them, APT hopes to build a more inclusive and
peaceful society where Afghan women can play a central role in shaping change.
